River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-08-18
Woman Work for Social Purity.
ANNA GARLIN SPENCER.
TConeludedl 1

lConeluded.l
| Third, rs to the wrongs of the class
of women so truly called abandoned.
No class, we have said, is so cruelty
treated in civilized communities as
that of prostitute women, or so me-
| elected as the poor and innocent girls
| from which its ranks are filled. Con-
slider the great underlying facts in this
whole dreadful business, the fact that
womanhOod is divided into two distinct
aud hostile bands. One, inside the
walled fortress of home, is protected.
is respected, is beloved and honored.
The other, having passed the gateway
| by single sin, perhaps no more soul
destroying in itself than many another
cherished in the bosom of respectable
| ity, is thrust without the wall; is de-
MED equal justice in law; is denied any
social communication with the uplift-
ing elements of society; is denied even
the chance of reformation unless will
| ing forever to wear brand of sin while
sitting ON the edge of the saints seat
in the sanctuary The only class in
any community calling itself civilized
which is left "a hopeless prey to brutal
lty and evil, by the consent Of the better
elements Of society, is the class of won.
en- called prostitutes. And between
these women and those within homes
fortress. pass and repass, welcome both
ways, men, the most respectable in
reputation and position, the most gift
ed in powers and opportunities, the
most blessed in legitimate domestic re-
latiOns. To the lowest man there is
always a chance for the upward climb
if he will but hold to the string of love
some good woman, mother, sister, wife
or friend holds out to him. To the
woman who sins one way, although at
first more sinned against than SHINING,
the penalty is complete eXcommunica-
ton from the paths that lead higher.
This monstrOus injustice and crime
against the Holy Spirit Of Love, leads
us to the consideration of our fourth
and last point: the personal duty of
good women in this matter No wOm-
AN can hold herself excused from the
measure of influence and action posi-
BILE, or wise, for her on account of the
plea of the helplessness of her sex, or
painfulneSs of the work. Time was
when woman had only personal inllu
ence. and greatly limited at that, over
the man of men to whom she was re-
lated in domestic life. Hers was only
the slaves power over the master.
But now whatever disabilities and diff
ficulties still hedge the path of woman
i'm general, the exceptional woman has
the freedom of the world and the av-
erage woman has large measure of
liberty's responsibilities entrusted to
her. The home, the school, the social
circle. the church life, the influence of
literature, the fascination of art, and
in less degree the persuasions of plat
form and pulpit. with the special OPP
portunityof many honored professions,
are tools for Gods service put into her
hands with unquestioned right of use.
Shall the growing liberty of the more
favored and the better women be only
"A means of widening more deeply the |
gulf between the respectable and
the "fallenl" Shall the new freedom
of advanced womanhood but doom to
more terrible isolation and hopeless
condemnation the despised remnant
behind! God forbid and in point of
fact we have no fear that woman will
consent when wholly free themselves,
to leave any class of women or men
bound in the slavery of sin. With
gratitude and with humility, we make
our proud boast that women every
where are seeing and saying as they
look shudderingly on the great moral
evils of society, that their new freedom
is for hottest use of world-cleansing
and not for selfish gain. As the nobler
and stronger womanhood sees the an
cient doors of seclusiOn which once
made home her prison, swing open at
the touch of Divine Providence, she
recognizes that in the opportunity of
liberty is the obligation to make the
world more nearly like true home.
And as the question Of social purity
opens up to her conscience and her
knowledge, she will more and more
recognize that for this cause also
motherhood's power was given.